Lavandula plant named ‘150GY007’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘150GY007’ that is characterized by a dwarf compact habit, large numbers of purple-blue flowers on short stems, a long flowering period and blooming in the first year without vernalization.

Botanical classification: Lavandula angustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘150GY007’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant botanically known as Lavandula angustifolia and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘150GY007’.

‘150GY007’ originated from a bed of open pollinated female or seed parent plants of Lavandula angustifolia ‘Thumbelina Leigh’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,231) in the spring of 2015 in Blenheim, New Zealand. The exact male or pollen parent is unknown. The resulting seeds were collected in December of 2015 and subjected to 150 grays of radiation in January of 2016. These seeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘150GY007’ was selected by the inventor in December of 2017 in a controlled environment as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a cultivated area of Auckland, New Zealand.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘150GY007’ first occurred by tissue culture and terminal cuttings in October of 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Lavandula cultivar ‘150GY007’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘150GY007’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existing varieties of Lavandula known by the inventor.

-   -   1. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits a dwarf compact habit.     -   2. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits large numbers of purple-blue         flowers on short stems.     -   3. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits a long flowering period.     -   4. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ blooms in the first year without         vernalization.

The closest comparison cultivars are Lavandula ‘Hidcote’ (not patented) and the female parent plant Lavandula ‘Thumbelina Leigh’. ‘150GY007’ is distinguishable from ‘Hidcote’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits a dwarf compact habit. In         comparison, the plant size of ‘Hidcote’ is larger in overall         height and width.     -   2. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits short flower spikes on short         peduncles. In comparison, ‘Hidcote’ has longer flower spikes and         longer peduncles.     -   3. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits a long flowering period, spring         through autumn. In comparison, ‘Hidcote’ only blooms during         summer.     -   4. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ blooms in the first year without         vernalization. In comparison, ‘Hidcote’ requires vernalization.     -   5. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits green leaves. In comparison,         the leaves of ‘Hidcote’ are silver-grey.

‘150GY007’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant Lavandula ‘Thumbelina Leigh’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits a dwarf compact habit. In         comparison, the plant size of the female parent plant is larger         in overall height and width.     -   2. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits short peduncles. In comparison,         the female parent plant has longer peduncles.     -   3. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits a long flowering period, spring         through autumn. In comparison, the female parent plant only         blooms during summer.     -   4. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ blooms in the first year without         vernalization. In comparison, the female parent plant requires         vernalization.     -   5. Lavandula ‘150GY007’ exhibits dark violet-blue flower buds.         In comparison, the flower buds of the female parent plant are         lighter violet-blue in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits of Lavandula ‘150GY007’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 15 week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance, it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Lavandula cultivar named ‘150GY007’. Data was collected in Oxnard, Calif. from 18 week old plants grown outdoors in 9 cm. diameter containers. The time of year was Spring and the temperature range was 15-25 degrees Centigrade during the day and 8-15 degrees Centigrade at night. The light level was natural light level. No photoperiodic treatments or growth retardants were used. Color determinations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species. ‘150GY007’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula angustifolia ‘150GY007’. -   Annual or perennial: Perennial. -   Parentage: ‘150GY007’ originated from the induced mutation of open     pollinated seeds collected from the female or seed parent, Lavandula     angustifolia ‘Thumbelina Leigh’. -   Plant type: Herbaceous perennial. -   Growth habit: Compact dwarf flattened dome. -   Plant shape: Inverted cone. -   Suitable container size: 9 to 15 cm. pots. -   Plant height to top of foliage: Average 8.0 cm. -   Plant height to top of floral plane: Average 15.0 cm. -   Plant width: Average 15.0 cm. -   Vigor: Moderate. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Low temperature tolerance: USDA zone 5. -   High temperature tolerance: 30° Centigrade. -   Propagation: Tissue culture and terminal cuttings. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting (summer): 28 days at 23° C. -   Crop time: Approximately 18 weeks in Oxnard, Calif. -   Root system: Fine and fibrous. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Profuse basal branching, all branches arise             from base.         -   Pinching.—Single pinch after establishment of rooted             cutting.         -   Number of branches.—Average 25.         -   Branch dimensions.—Average 1.25 mm. in width and 11 cm. in             length.         -   Branch strength.—Strong.         -   Branch angle.—Average 0 degrees from vertical.         -   Pubescence.—Puberulent.         -   Internode length.—Average 4.0 mm. between nodes.         -   Shape.—Square in cross-section.         -   Branch color.—143C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Typically opposite, occasionally             alternate.         -   Compound or single.—Single.         -   Quantity of leaves per branch.—Average 18.         -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaf aspect.—Upper surface longitudinally convex, lower             surface concave.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf base.—Truncate.         -   Leaf dimensions.—Average 25.0 mm. in length and 3.0 cm. in             width.         -   Leaf texture upper surface.—Slightly rough.         -   Leaf texture lower surface.—Slightly rough.         -   Leaf luster upper surface.—Matte.         -   Leaf luster lower surface.—Matte.         -   Pubescence.—Puberulent (both surfaces).         -   Leaf margin.—Entire, revolute.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel, mid-vein depressed on upper             surface and raised on lower surface.         -   Leaf color (upper surface).—191A.         -   Leaf color (lower surface).—143C.         -   Vein color (upper surface).—145A.         -   Vein color (lower surface).—145A.         -   Leaf fragrance.—Strong lavender fragrance.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile. -   Flower:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal spike.         -   Inflorescence shape.—Cylindrical shaped spike.         -   Inflorescence dimensions.—Average 21.0 mm. in length and             15.0 mm. in diameter.         -   Quantity of inflorescence.—Average 25 per plant.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per inflorescence.—Average 25             per spike.         -   Average number of whorls per spike.—5.         -   Length from second whorl to top of spike.—Short.         -   Distance between whorls.—Very short.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to Autumn.         -   Time to flower or response time.—3 months from rooting.         -   Flower type and form.—Corolla tube with 5 lobes.         -   Bud length.—Average 3.0 mm.         -   Bud diameter.—Average 2.0 mm.         -   Bud shape.—Ovoid.         -   Bud texture.—Glabrous.         -   Bud luster.—Slightly glossy.         -   Bud color.—N92C.         -   Rate of flower opening.—14 days from first bud to last             flower opening.         -   Flower aspect.—Upward and outward.         -   Flower shape.—Petals fused into corolla tube which subtends             5 free petaloid lobes.         -   Corolla tube dimensions.—Average 2.5 mm. in diameter and             7.0 mm. in depth.         -   Corolla tube color.—NN155D (both surfaces).         -   Corolla tube texture.—Glabrous, translucent towards base.         -   Petaloid lobes (2 upper lobes).—Each lobe average 4.0 mm. in             length and 3.0 mm. in width, color 85A to 85B on both             surfaces, margins N87C, apex rounded, texture smooth on both             surfaces.         -   Petaloid lobes (3 lower lobes).—Each lobe average 3.0 mm. in             length and 3.0 mm. in width, color 85A to 85B on both             surfaces, margins N87C, apex rounded, texture smooth on both             surfaces.         -   Flower longevity.—5 to 7 days.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—5 to 7 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning. -   Bracts:     -   -   Infertile bracts.—Absent.         -   Fertile bracts.—Absent. -   Bracteoles: At base of spike are 1 to 2 bracteoles, 2.5 mm. in     length. -   Calyx: Tubular in shape, dimensions average 4.5 mm. in length and     2.5 mm. in width, sepals fused to form calyx tube. -   Sepals:     -   -   Sepal arrangement.—Fused, parallel, slightly ribbed.         -   Number of sepals.—5.         -   Sepal dimensions.—Average 4.5 mm. in length and 1.5 mm. in             width.         -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Sepal tip.—Acute.         -   Sepal base.—Truncate.         -   Sepal color (both sides).—N92C. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—Average 4.0 cm. in length and 1.2 mm.             in diameter.         -   Lateral branching on peduncle above foliage.—Absent.         -   Aspect of flowering stems at full flowering.—Central stems             erect, outer stems leaning outward up to 20 degrees from             vertical.         -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.         -   Peduncle texture.—Glabrous, smooth.         -   Peduncle color.—143C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—4 (2 posterior, 2 anterior).         -   Anther shape.—Reniform.         -   Anther length.—Average 0.4 mm.         -   Anther width.—Average 0.4 mm.         -   Anther color.—N200A.         -   Filament length.—Average 1.5 mm.         -   Filament color.—NN155D.         -   Amount of pollen.—None.         -   Number of pistils.—1.         -   Pistil length.—Average 2.5 mm.         -   Pistil diameter.—Average 0.2 mm.         -   Stigma shape.—Ellipsoid.         -   Stigma color.—NN155D.         -   Style length.—Average 4.0 mm. in length.         -   Style color.—NN155C.         -   Ovary shape.—Globe shaped, 0.5 mm. in diameter.         -   Ovary color.—146C. -   Fruit and seed: ‘150GY007’ has not produced fruit or seed to date. -   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not     been observed. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lavandula plant named ‘150GY007’ as described and illustrated. 